Busta Rhymes
The most idiosyncratic personality in rap and possessor of its most recognizable
delivery, a halting, ragga-inspired style with incredible complexity,
inventiveness, and humour, Busta Rhymes formed Leaders of the New School in
1990 and released two albums with the group before breaking out with a 1996 solo
hit single, "Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check."
Born in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, in 1972 of Jamaican heritage (a definite
influence on his rapping style), Busta moved to Long Island in 1983 and, at
Uniondale High School, met up with MCs
Charlie Brown,
Dinco D.,
and
Cut Monitor
Milo.
Inspired by fellow Long Islanders
Public Enemy
and
Eric B. & Rakim,
the foursome united as Leaders of the New School and signed a deal with Elektra
Records right out of the gate, when Busta was only 17 years old. Much respected
in the
hip-hop
underground for their Afrocentric philosophy and tough rapping styles, Leaders
of the New School debuted in 1991 with Future Without a Past... but released
only one more album, 1993's T.I.M.E., before breaking up the following year.
Out on his own for the first time, Busta called on some friends, appearing on
A Tribe Called
Quest's
"Scenario," the incredible remix of
Craig Mack's
"Flava in Ya Ear" (also featuring Notorious B.I.G. and
LL Cool J),
as well as other projects with Boyz II Men,
Mary J. Blige,
and TLC. He also appeared in the 1995
John Singleton
film Higher Learning and earned a solo contract with Elektra. Busta's first
album,
The Coming,
proved a huge hit; the single "Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check" hit the Top Ten
and pushed the album into gold-record territory. His second album,
When Disaster
Strikes,
debuted at number three in September 1997.
Extinction
Level Event
followed a year later, and in mid-2000, Busta released
Anarchy
while appearing on the silver screen in a remake of the blaxploitation classic
Shaft. 2002's
It Ain't Safe
No More
and 2006's Aftermath-released
The Big Bang
followed. While shooting a video for a remix of the latter album's "Touch It,"
Busta's bodyguard was shot to death. John Bush:
Hits:
‘I love My Chick’ Video: Watch here
‘Give it 2 me ‘Feat: Mariah Carey: Video: Watch here
Bookings for Europe, Asia and Africa only